Clinical Manifestations Flashcards
are signs objective or subjective?
objective findings (assessed or measured by a healthcare provider)
are symptoms objective or subjective?
subjective ( reported by patient)
what tests are evaluated in patients with asthma?
physical assessment findings, lab results, radiological findings, pulmonary function tests and peak flow monitoring
what symptoms may an asthma patient report?
SOB, dyspnea, noising breathing (wheezing)
why does dyspnea result in an asthmatic patient?
is a result of an inability to adequately ventilate the lungs and an abnormal ventilation- perfusion relationship where parts of the lung that are not adequately ventilated are still well perfused
- this is described as low V/Q ratio
what does chest tightness result from?
air trapping and the resultant hyperinflation of the lungs
why does the symptom of cough occur?
when the patient tries to clear their airways of mucous
in the ABSENCE of a respiratory infection, is the cough during an asthma attack non-productive or productive?
non productive - dry cough that does not produce phlegm
what is wheezing the result of?
passing of air through narrowed airways
is wheezing expiratory or inspiratory?
expiratory - as the obstruction is in the lower airways
clinical manifestations during an asthma attack are related to which airways?
narrowed airways (lower airway obstruction)
- owing to bronchospasm, edema of the bronchial mucosa and mucus hypersecretion
what happens as the obstruction of the airway worsens?
air becomes trapped during expiration
as hyperinflation progresses what happens?
alveolar hypoventilation occurs because of the increasing intrapleural and alveolar gas pressures - this impeded gas exchange
what is hyperventilation triggered by?
lung receptors responding to increasing lung volume and alveolar hypoxia
what does alveolar hypoxia cause?
pulmonary vasoconstriction which is turn decreases vascular perfusion to the affected alveoli in an attempt to correct the ventilation perfusion mismatch
